At least three people died and 30 were missing after a fire ripped through the wooden three-story residence for the elderly in the Eastern Canadian province of Quebec. Photo: Reuters

Acting mayor Ginette Caron said many of those unaccounted for were confined to wheelchairs and used walkers, adding that only five residents in the centre were fully independent. She said some had Alzheimer's disease.

Mario Michaud, who lives across the street from the building, said he noticed the fire shortly after midnight on Thursday.

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"I got up to go to the toilet and I saw smoke," Mr Michaud told local newspaper Info Dimanche.